Brian D. Sandahl, senior art director for Disney entertainment creative development, discusses his vision for Haunted Mansion Holiday's 2012 gingerbread house. Sandahl is affectionately referred to as the "Pumpkin King" by co-workers as he has managed the Mansion's holiday transformation for the past 12 years. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Brian D. Sandahl, senior art director for Disney entertainment creative development, discusses his vision for Haunted Mansion Holiday's 2012 gingerbread house. Sandahl is affectionately referred to as the "Pumpkin King" by co-workers as he has managed the Mansion's holiday transformation for the past twelve years. JOSHUA SUDOCK, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Concept art shows plans for the gingerbread house in Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland. Courtesy of Disney

ANAHEIM – At 9 feet tall with a ghost train around it, the upcoming gingerbread house will stand the tallest and feature the most complex special effects in the Haunted Mansion Holiday's 12-year history.

Disneyland will debut its new, spooky gingerbread house when the seasonal version of the Haunted Mansion ride opens Sept. 14. Disney transforms the Haunted Mansion into the theme of Tim Burton's "The Nightmare Before Christmas" during the Halloween and Christmas holiday periods.

Each year, a massive gingerbread with a new theme stands as the centerpiece of the ballroom's table. This year, Jack's Gingerbread House will look like movie character Jack Skellington's home on top of a spindly peak.

"For returning guests, this is always the new thing to see," said Brian D. Sandahl, art director for Haunted Mansion Holiday.

Bakers and decorators cover the entire structure – a wooden house and hard-foam base – with gingerbread and fondant, an icing-like substance used in pastry sculptures. The house itself is about 3 feet tall and the base is about 6 feet tall, Sandahl said. Zero, the ghost dog, will fly around the tower.

Around the house for the first time, riders can watch a see-through ghost train that will appear to travel around the base of the house. For the train, Disney is using the same reflective special effects used for the see-through ghosts in the ballroom scene. One of the ghosts will blow out a candle on a cupcake on the train, which will also chase a gingerbread man on a push car.

The house likely will weigh 400 to 500 pounds.

About 20 employees work to complete the house. Decorators will start covering the structure after Labor Day and spend a final two days on details after it is moved inside the mansion, Sandahl said.

Sandahl said the gingerbread doesn't rot, mostly because it is in the always-cold mansion. Plus, the bakers don't worry too much about the flavor.

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